Monday, December 3, 2012

Cindy Sproles, Featured Author, plus Monthly Book Give-Away

It's time again for our guest author and monthly book give-away. It is my pleasure to introduce Cindy Sproles to you today. I've recently become familiar with Cindy's writing through ChristianDevotions.us. Cindy is co-founder and executive editor of this 501c3 non-profit ministry. Cindy is the co-author of the successful He Said, She Said devotions and is the co-host of the nationally syndicated BlogTalk Radio show, Christians Devotions Speak UP! She is a contributor to CBN.com and is director of Writer ADVANCE! Boot Camp Writers Conference. I recently read her new book, New Sheets. I was touched by its relevance and candor. I believe almost every woman can find encouragement there. So, I've asked Cindy to tell us about herself and her writing. And I'm giving away a copy of her book.Tell us about your new release,New Sheets--Thirty Days to Refine You into the Woman You Can Be.

New Sheets is a thirty-day devotional/inspirational book. It was a project I thought of years ago. Every time I picked up a pen to write it, I found I hadn't matured enough to write it with authority and hindsight. I came up with the idea in 1984. I'd gone through a divorce, and moved back to Tennessee with a broken heart and two boys under the age of three. I had no car, no money, and no job. It took years to look through the rough times and find the good. But I came at it with the mindset, "God has a plan. I'm gonna learn."I kept a journal for a while just to help me through, then one night as I turned down the comforter, ready to crawl into bed, I realized I was still sleeping with the memories of the man who'd divorced me, sleeping on the same sheets I'd slept on with him. It was time for something new. A new start.I couldn't afford a shopping spree. I could barely afford groceries, but I literally saved quarters in a mason jar until I had enough money to go to Wal-Mart to buy new sheets. I found some brown and pink paisley ones in the bottom of the sale bin. New. Crisp. Wrinkle-free. And when I put them on the bed, it was like a new page in my life. So after that, every new turn in my life, I bought a new set of sheets. Each new set marked a time in my life when God stoked the fire under me, hung me over the flames and refined me like silver. By the time I hit my 50s I could look over the prior thrity years and say with confidence. . . "I've matured. Refined. Learned." Hence the book. To this day, I send new sheets to friends who have gone through major devastating life changes.Tell us about your family.We're a combined family. After my divorce, I never imagined I'd remarry. I struggled with the scriptural side of divorce. But God sent me Tim. He took my children (one of them disabled) and me and loved us as though we had always been his. We have four boys between us, aged 32 and 31 years old. We're looking forward to our first grandbaby. We live in the mountains of East Tennessee. There is never a day that passes I do not praise God for my family. We are blessed.You mentioned a special ministry where your heart lies.There is an organization called Hope House that helps young, unwed moms choose life for their babies. They help with housing, parenting skills, job training, teach Biblical principals, and so much more. Our lives and hearts have been touched by the work these folks do. With every sale of New Sheets, a portion of the money goes to Hope House for the women and the babies they help.Do you have any closing advice for us?If I had words of wisdom to offer it would simply be to live by the words of the Apostle Paul. "Rejoice in the Lord always. Rejoice in all things". All of us occasionally hit the river and bounce like a skipping rock. The bounces hurt, but when we manage through them and the skid comes--what a ride. Learning to rejoice in every situation takes skill and faith. That's where God refines us. Those are my words of wisdom. That and this: Buy yourself a set of new sheets when the storm is over. It's a fresh start. New Sheets. . . new day. . . new start.Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.Philippians 4:4

Now, for an opportunity to receive a copy of Cindy's devotional, New Sheets.At least ten readers must comment and share in order for there to be a book give-away. So come on everyone. Join in. Follow these easy steps to qualify for the random drawing.1. Leave a comment on this blog. (Include your name and email address if you want to be included in the drawing. I will use your address to contact you if you win.) I love to read your comments. Cindy will comment as well.2. Share this blog post on Facebook so your friends will read about it and visit too, or tweet it, or mention the book give-away on your own blog. If you do not have a facebook, or a blog, become a follower of this site.Complete these steps by 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 8th. A winner will be announced here on Monday, December 10th, so be sure to check back to see if you've won.Thank you for supporting my writing by reading and commenting on this blog. You are a blessing to me. Please come again.Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.Philippians 1:6.

Good Morning to you Rose!! Thank you for having such a wonderful site for me to visit. I'm so glad God put it in your heart to start doing this because not only are you being blessed for doing this but you are blessing so many others.

Thank you Mary. I got some flack in the beginning about the title. But when it came down to it...facts are facts. New Sheets is what I purchased. I had to drag some folks' minds out of the gutter early on. But the title is perfect.

Sounds like a very interesting read. Even though I am a guy, the struggles can still be the same in most cases. Always good to hear what someone has to say when they have been through it. Thanks for the blog Rose!!!

Jason,By all mean this is a read a guy could enjoy. Everyone goes through changes in their lives, and hardships. We all move through those changes in our own way. Some cry, others push things to the side,but one way or the other, we all work our way through the phases of our lives. And if the truth were known, I'd guess more folks than me, mark those changes with something unique....maybe a vacation, a hike...a new car (woo-hoo!) Just because the book is marketed toward women doesn't mean a guy can't gain some insight. One other thing, visit www.christiandevotions.us every Friday. My ministry partner, Eddie Jones and I write He Said, She Said. One verse, two perspectives, His and Hers. You'll enjoy that as well.

Cindy sounds like an amazing woman and author! I love the imagery and meaning behind the new sheets and skipping stones. I might have to go out and buy her book if I am not your winner! Thanks again for introducing another author. Have a great day!

Amy, Have you ever skipped stones? It's a tough task. Takes some practice. It's one of those things that looks soooo easy until you actually try it. And that's how our lives really are. It looks easy, but every phase of our lives takes practice. I told our son, who is expecting his first child..."You'll always be a FIRST time dad. No matter how many kids you have, you're still a first time dad with child number one. Every bump, lump and turn with that child is a first time experience that you learn from for the next." So you toss that stone and it hits and sinks. Try again, hit and sink. Again, hit and one skip. You just keep going until you bounce right across the river. My grandmother taught me how to skip a stone on the water and her words were so sweet. "Once you figure this out, nothin' can hold you down."

So yeah...skipping stones is fun. It's a learning experience just like life. We're always beginners at something. I hope you'll get the book and help Hope House.

Rose - Thank you for sharing about New Sheets. I'm so grateful and I hope your readers will support Hope House by the purchase of the book. They can view the work of Hope House at www.hopehouse.us and they can visit ChristianDevotions.us everyday for great devotions.

One other thing...well, maybe two. 1) We are doing Writers ADVANCE! Boot Camp at The Cove, the Billy Graham Training Center in Asheville, NC February 1-3. It's just a weekend but it's jam packed with writing classes. It's affordable and well worth your time. Heading up our faculty is Speaker/Author Vonda Skelton and Best Selling Author, Mike Dellosso. Visit www.writersadvancebootcamp.com for more information. HURRY!

And finally, Christian Devotions is always searching for new writers and yes, we'll take experienced ones too :) We send daily devotions year round. Visit www.christiandevotions.us and click on the Write for Us tab. We'd love to be your in to becoming published.

God inspires our good ideas, and they touch the hearts of others. Thank you as well Rose for contributing your thoughts. I enjoy your devotions too. Particularly liked yours this week--God talks to ordinary people.

What a lovely, amazing, and heart-wrenching story, all wrapped together—like a set of new sheets! Thank you for sharing your story, Cindy. I'm sure it was difficult to write but I know it will bless many.

Thank you for sharing the link on FB. The book wasn't hard to write. The stories are history...actually HIS-story. Time passes and God grooms us into sheets. The old go out the door. SO the book wasn't hard to write at all. I value the times. As Paul says, Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS.

I tweeted about the New Sheets post https://twitter.com/LaneHillHouse/status/277302623277838336 and shared on my Facebook news page ~*~ shared a link.Write Moments with God--an encouraging place: Cindy Sproles, Featured Author, plus Monthly Book Givewritemomentswithgod.blogspot.comThe focus is on God showing himself in everyday moments.

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About Me

What defines me as a person--first and foremost my relationship with Christ. Then I have to say my children. I have six children, three sons and three daughters, whom I love with all my heart. I graduated college wanting to be a writer and a stay at home mom. After my divorce, I became a teacher and the writing became a once in a while thing. I have worked in education for the last 25 years. I've served as an English teacher, French teacher, counselor and librarian. Currently, I'm an adjunct English instructor at a community college. In 2008, I started writing again. Mostly I write about God in my everyday life, how to connect faith and figure out practical applications for Scripture in daily life. God's goodness gives me strength for each day. Let's encourage one another on this blog. And, by the way, I'm a Southerner, born in Georgia, and have lived in Martinez (suburb of Augusta, GA) for the last thirty years.